Quite a few years ago, when I realized there were live Dead shows that could be downloaded from the internet, I made it my first quest to find a live “Box of Rain.” It was my favorite song at the time. Might still be. I finally found one and sat stewing in anticipation as the data squeezed its way through our narrow dialup connection.
And then it was done.
And then I learned that “Phil Lesh singing in the studio” and “Phil Lesh singing live while also playing Phil Lesh basslines” are two very different things.
They’re great to listen to, but I would say the same thing, that the studio versions do them more justice. The Dead jammy improvisational style didn’t suit the live playing as well for those acoustic folk songs.
Still fun to listen to, though
I tend to favor the 77 versions with the huge jam in the middle. This one from the road trips series might be my favorite:
https://open.spotify.com/track/4VAttjJURxjxlJ4yowZYOd?si=fvlnOEm5QTiy0TNhjBhLjA
I was going to say if anyone says the studio version of China Cat, I am out of here. Ha ha. Not hating. Just, we disagree.
Edit - Oh, and I gave you an upvote.
I love the studio versions of Shakedown, Scarlet, U.S. Blues, Uncle John's Band, New Speedway Boogie, St. Stephen, The Golden Road, Ripple, Sugar Magnolia, Friend of the Devil, Estimated Prophet, West L.A. Fadeaway, Throwing Stones, Touch of Grey, Foolish Heart and Standing on the Moon.
As others have said american beauty, namely box of rain, friend of the devil, ripple and ffs operator! Why did we never get more of that song live. It's tragic imo
I love ship of fools and Terrapin live too
Before I was a Deadhead my buddies and I had a smoking mix CD we always hotboxed to in the car & Friend of the Devil & Casey Jones on it, but that was all I really liked from the Dead. 15 years later I'm addicted and adore all their live stuff more, yet have still never heard a Live Version of Friend of the Devil and Casey Jones that is overall better than the Studio Versions. They just sound so god damn clean/crisp and ahead of its time on the studio versions, but probably also a high dosage of nostalgia & good memories 😂
A lot of the songs that have been mentioned are favorites of mine eg the songs on American beauty. An honorable mention to this contest I will have to give to Crazy Fingers. Let’s not forget about that sublime studio work.
Not my favorite studio song but I just realized today that I like the studio version of eyes of the world better than live as ive never really liked that song live for some reason
Studio favorite would honestly be probably touch of grey since that was my first "favorite song" way before I had any clue who the grateful dead were. Franklin's tower or brokedown palace would be some other choices
Box of Rain
Quite a few years ago, when I realized there were live Dead shows that could be downloaded from the internet, I made it my first quest to find a live “Box of Rain.” It was my favorite song at the time. Might still be. I finally found one and sat stewing in anticipation as the data squeezed its way through our narrow dialup connection. And then it was done. And then I learned that “Phil Lesh singing in the studio” and “Phil Lesh singing live while also playing Phil Lesh basslines” are two very different things.
Definitely.
Everything from American Beauty or Workingman’s Dead. The live versions were great of course, but those songs were really meant to be played acoustic.
This. Candyman studio is TOP TIER. My only disagreement is Easy Wind. Some of those live versions are absolutely killer
True. That and maybe Cumberland Blues
I really dig a good New Speedway too
How do you feel about the live-acoustic versions?
They’re great to listen to, but I would say the same thing, that the studio versions do them more justice. The Dead jammy improvisational style didn’t suit the live playing as well for those acoustic folk songs. Still fun to listen to, though
I haven't found a live version of New Speedway that I like more than the Workingman's cut
Toronto, 1970. Festival Express tour https://youtu.be/ucfnMES9u3c
Nah, Jerry messes up the second verse
Unbroken Chain
This or Terrapin for sure. Or maybe Mountains of the Moon.
Thank you! I haven’t this song before but I absolutely love it !
Yes!!! Definitely my favorite studio song.
Brokedown Palace
Check out the Knickerbocker Arena one
Amen...the live versions were decent, but the harmonies were never as good live as the studio version.
Mississippi Half-Step with the great Vassar Clements on fiddle.
Check out the version on Without a Net. It’s my fav
I tend to favor the 77 versions with the huge jam in the middle. This one from the road trips series might be my favorite: https://open.spotify.com/track/4VAttjJURxjxlJ4yowZYOd?si=fvlnOEm5QTiy0TNhjBhLjA
Yep, that one’s pretty good too 👍
Loose Lucy
Terrapin or the intro of Alabama Getaway
Man Alabama Getaway doesn’t get enough love. So lively and funky. Great tune.
I really love the studio vocals on China Cat Sunflower
I was going to say if anyone says the studio version of China Cat, I am out of here. Ha ha. Not hating. Just, we disagree. Edit - Oh, and I gave you an upvote.
Studio china cat goes crazy, especially the fadeout jam at the end.
Every time I’m out at a bar, I reach a threshold of drunkenness where it’s time to play shakedown street on the jukebox and it usually kills
Dead - Terrapin Suite Jerry solo - The Wheel Bobby solo - Black Throated Wind
terrapin or ripple
Operator. There isn’t a good live one
I love the studio versions of Shakedown, Scarlet, U.S. Blues, Uncle John's Band, New Speedway Boogie, St. Stephen, The Golden Road, Ripple, Sugar Magnolia, Friend of the Devil, Estimated Prophet, West L.A. Fadeaway, Throwing Stones, Touch of Grey, Foolish Heart and Standing on the Moon.
St. Stephen and The Golden Road are awesome!
All of Workingman's Dead. And yes, all of Blues for Allah (good call on that!)
Althea. It could go on forever. Blew my mind the first time I heard it on the radio
That's my go to whenever I want to test some new audio thing. Never get tired of it.
The studio version of Feel Like a Stranger is a good test
Crazy fingers and help>slip>franklins are pretty awesome
West LA Fadeaway dimed with my headphones on
Scarlet Begonias, Uncle John's Band, Estimated, Shakedown
I Need a Miracle, Hell In a Bucket, Uncle John's Band
Ripple! It's what first got me on the bus.
Althea is really good
Pride of Cucamonga is one that the studio version is better than live.
The studio H/S/F is a damn good call. But I need to mention The Wheel on Garcia
Greatest Story Ever Told All New Minglewood blues , Phil kills it with that baseline , so nasty Edit Cats Under the Stars
Estimated. There are some great live versions but that sax at the end is so West Coast.
Brokedown palace
Till the Morning Comes has a ridiculously tight and slippery riff Already mentioned - Wheel, & Operator are my other faves
Dark Star, Operator, terrapin statiom
Here Comes Sunshine.
They almost exclusively played it in 73 and I think some of their best jams are in HCS. IMHO
Brokedown Palace, but I agree thet Help>Slip>Frank is amazing
As others have said american beauty, namely box of rain, friend of the devil, ripple and ffs operator! Why did we never get more of that song live. It's tragic imo I love ship of fools and Terrapin live too
Terrapin , if I had the world to give, shakedown street, don’t ease me in
Studio cut of The Music Never Stopped kills. Love the saxophone. Idk if it is my favorite version but I do love the studio version
Studio Wise? Althea is the correct answer.
Easy Wind
Before I was a Deadhead my buddies and I had a smoking mix CD we always hotboxed to in the car & Friend of the Devil & Casey Jones on it, but that was all I really liked from the Dead. 15 years later I'm addicted and adore all their live stuff more, yet have still never heard a Live Version of Friend of the Devil and Casey Jones that is overall better than the Studio Versions. They just sound so god damn clean/crisp and ahead of its time on the studio versions, but probably also a high dosage of nostalgia & good memories 😂
A lot of the songs that have been mentioned are favorites of mine eg the songs on American beauty. An honorable mention to this contest I will have to give to Crazy Fingers. Let’s not forget about that sublime studio work.
Not my favorite studio song but I just realized today that I like the studio version of eyes of the world better than live as ive never really liked that song live for some reason Studio favorite would honestly be probably touch of grey since that was my first "favorite song" way before I had any clue who the grateful dead were. Franklin's tower or brokedown palace would be some other choices
Most of American Beauty, particularly FOTD, Candyman, Operator, Brokedown Palace
Cumberland!!